Applicator



H. E. CU RRY APPLICATOR March 27, 1951 Filed March 17, 1947 Z W N Z WC 4 D a w H FITTOBIYE YJ' Patented Mar. 27, 1 951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Harold E. Curry, Seattle, Wash.

Application March 17, 1947, Serial No. 735,061

3 Claims.

This invention relates to means for the administration or application of a liquid medicament to cranial or other cavities of the body where a direct application is difiicult, impractical or impossible. Specifically stated, the present invention has to do with means for the atomization of a liquid medicament and the self-application thereof, through the nasal passages or mouth, to the cranial cavities, for example, to the sinuses for the treatment of sinus infection;

it being understood however that this is only may be caused to flow, and alternately directed through one or the other of two different channels to alternately cause, first, an atomization of liquid in the atomizer and its conveyance by the gas under mild pressure from the atomizing chamber to the area of treatment and second, to produce a condition of slight vacuum in the atomizing chamber which will be transmitted to the cavity under treatment.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an applicator of the kind and for the pur- --pose above stated, that is free of movable valves and non-rigid parts, and which may be easily held by the us r in one hand for the self-application of the medicament and manipulated by the same hand in which it is held to control the flow of gas through the aspirator that results in the creation of the above mentioned conditionsof pressure and vacuum.

Another objict of the invention is to provide :Ian applicator that is compact; light in weight; :easy to keep in sterile condition; free of non- :rigid parts; and'capable of one-hand manipus-lation for its intended uses.

Other objects of the invention reside in the ;.details of construction of the various parts embodied in the device, in their combination, relationship and mode of use as will hereinafter be fully, described.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention, I have provided th improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side view of an applicator embodied by the present invention, showing it as applied use for the application of a medicament to the sinuses. i

Fig- 2 is alongitudinal section of the applicazlt'or, particularly illustrating the construction of the aspirator and means for th atomization of nozzle but at an angle of about the medicament, and whereby the conditions, of vacuum and pressure may be established.

Fig. 3 is a view of an adapter that may be used with the applicator for its connection with the nasal passages.

Fig. 4 is a detail, showing an alternative form of connection between the atomizing flask and the aspirator.

The present device comprises, essentially, an atomizer whereby a selected liquid medicament may be vaporized or atomized and an aspirator whereby the cavities being treated may alternately be placed under slight vacuum and under mild pressure of the gas whereby the atomization of liquid is effected and the atomized medicine conveyed to the place of use.

In the administration of a medicament, such for example, penicillin, or any other selected liquid medicament that may be atomized, I prefer to employ a flask type atomizer like or of the general character of that described and illustrated in my United States Patent No. 2,111,841, issued March 22, 1938. However, the invention is not to be restricted in use thereto.

The atomizer which I have herein shown comprises a spherical bulb, or flask [ii of glass or other suitable material, having a tubular discharge neck ll of substantial length and diameter, extending from one side thereof. The neck I! is open at its outer end for easy outflow of a gas bearing medicament and at that end has the tubular stern portion of a V-shaped fitting l2 applied thereto in a gas tight joint. The two diverging leg portions of the fitting I2 have short, flexible tubes l3 applied thereto which, at their outer ends, ar equipped with hollow plugs or fit- .tings I4 which may be easily and readily applied ,to the nostrils, thus to provide for the application of the medicament to the treated areas through the nasal passages.

Cast integrally with and extended into the bulb I0 at a location opposite to and in axial alignment with the neck portion II, is a gas delivery nozzle 26. This is pointed toward the neck and supported therefrom, by an integral branch 21, is

a vertically extending capillary tube 22 which is open at both ends and which, at its lower end, terminates slightly from the bottom of the flask with reference to its position of normal use, as seen in Fig. 2. At its upper end the capillary tube terminates directly in the line of delivery of gas from the nozzle 20 and has this end portion curved in a direction away from the nozzle.

Supported from the capillary tube 22 by a branch 23, is a flat surfaced baflle 24 which is set directly in the line of discharge from the It will be understood that with the flask and other parts of the atomizer so constructed and related in position, and held in position as shown 3 extended into a liquid medicament contained in the flask, and designated by numeral 26, the delivery of gas from the nozzle under pressure will create a condition of vacuum about the upper end of the capillary tube whereby liquid will be drawn up the tube channel and into the gas jet and blown by the jet of gas against the bafiie 24 and thereby atomized. The atomized medicament suspended in the gas will then be carried out through the open neck of the flask under the pressure of the incoming gas, and forced through the branches of the fitting I2, and tubes I3 to the nasal passages for delivery to the cavities under treatment.

Application of the medicament by use of the applicator might also b through the mouth in like manner. The pressure of the conveyin gas would depend upon the amount and pressure under which the gas was supplied to the atomizer through nozzle 29.

It is preferred that the nozzle 20 be cast or formed integrally with flask as shown in Fig. 2. The present drawings, in Figs. 1 and 2, show the outer end of the nozzle to be integrally formed with an aspirator that is designated in its entirety by referenc numeral 39. This comprises an aspirator tube 3i that is disposed substantially at a right angle to the axial line of the nozzle, and at one end is open and there equipped for connection with a gas supply hose or tube, preferably a flexible rubber tube as designated by numeral 32. The opposite end of the tube 3| also is open and within that end portion is formed with a Venturi passage, as at 33.

The nozzle 29 leads from the tube 3| at a point between the Venturi passage and the lower end of the tube as seen in Fig. 2 and within the tube is a nozzle 35 that is open at its larger or base end directly to that end of tube 3| to which the gas pressure is supplied by hose 32. The nozzle 35 tapers to a restricted opening 36 just below the Venturi passage. i'he axial line of the nozzle 35 coincides with the axis of the tube 3| and Venturi passage and the nozzle itself extends from below upwardly and beyond the outlet to nozzle 2a so that with the upper end of tube 31 open and gas being discharged from nozzle 35 and through the Venturi passage, suction will be created in tube 3|, and transmitted through nozzle 29 to the flask l9 and this will create a condition of partial vacuum in the flask that will be transmitted through the nasal connectors and nasal passages to the cavities being treated.

Should the upper end of tube 3| be closed while gas is being delivered from nozzle 35, for example, by placing a finger over the open end, as shown in Fig. 1, then pressure will be built up in the tube 3| and this gas under pressure discharged through the nozzle 29 to the flask to effect the atomization of liquid which is carried in suspension in the gas from the atomizer to the cavities being treated. Thus, by simply applying the finger momentarily over the upper end of tube 3i, and removing it, the conditions of pressure and vacuum in the flask will be established in sequence and incident thereto, liquid medicament will be atomized and applied, and the cavities placed under that condition of vacuum that aids in the removal or draining ofi of mucus and augments the entry of the medicine laden gas.

In Fig. 4, I have illustrated an alternative construction wherein the nozzle 29 is open at its outer end, and the tube 3| is equipped with a tapered, lateral stem 40, adapted to be removably fitted in --the open end of the nozzle 2! thus to provide a rigid connection, but one that permits disconnec tion of parts when it is desired.

The particular advantage of the present construction and arrangement of parts, whereby a rigid structure is provided, resides in the fact that it is possible for the user to easily hold the device in one hand and with one finger of that hand, control the gas flow so as to cause the atomization and application of the medicine, and then for a period of any des-red extent to create a condition of vacuum or suction that is beneficial to the administration and also to clearing the cavities being treated.

It is not the intent that the invention be restricted in any way to the type or details of construction of the atomizer that has been illustrated, or to the specific place and mode of application of the aspirator thereto, but that the invention be considered broadly as the combination of an aspirator and atomizer, joined as a rigid construction, operable by one hand and capable of performing the atomizing and applying actions substantially as specified.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An applicator of the character described comprising, in combination, an atomizer and an aspirator; said atomizer having a closed chamber adapted for containing a supply of liquid for atomization, and formed with a wall passage through which vacuum may be drawn in the chamber or gas injected thereinto by the aspirator, and having also an outlet through which a connection may be made with a cavity under treatment, and devices in the chamber for the atomization of liquid incident to the injection of gas into the chamber through the said wall passage; said aspirator comprising a tubular member equipped for connection at one end with a source of gas under pressare and open at its other end and having its suction connection in direct communication with the said wall passage of the atomizer chamber for the drawing of vacuum inthe chamber in normal operation of the aspirator and through which gaswill be injected into the atomizing chamber to effect the atomization of liquid and its conveyance with the gas to the treated area incident to a momentary closing of the open end of the aspirator tube.

A device as in claim 1 wherein the aspirator tube is rigidly associated with the atomizer for one hand holding and operation of the applicator in its functional use.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein the aspirator tube is rigidly associated with the atomizer for one hand holding of the applicator in its functional use, and wherein the outlet from the atomizer chamber comprises a tubular extension, and an adapter is fitted in said extension as a tubular connector between the said outlet and cavity under treatment.

HAROLD E. CURRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Talley Feb. 29, 1944 

